4 Chapter 4: Child of Mischief

Walking down the street, Ryu was walking down towards his home now that school had ended.

But something felt strange, he could clearly feel the gaze of someone, as if someone was monitoring his every movement, but aside former that, the journey to return to home was safe and sound.

He opened the door with his spare key and entered the house, "Mom, I'm back." he said.

"Welcome back honey, go change you clothes and come to the kitchen, the dinner is ready." he heard his mother say from the kitchen.

He did as she instructed and went to his room to change clothes, after washing his hand and face, he came bsck and entered the kitchen to find someone unexpected there.

"Grandpa?!" he said with surprise, he hadn't seen his grandfather in years, so it was wierd seeing him here so casually.

"HAHA, I am indeed, you've grown into a fine young man Ryu, haven't you?" he said with affection, even with his white beard and mustache, you could still see that he was smiling.

Ryu hugged him, and he hugged Ryu back, it was a reunion after a long time, and both were extremely happy to see each other. After a bit, they released the hug and sat behind the table for the dinner.

After a few short minutes, Ryu's mother brought the dinner, "Here is the dinner you two, eat as much as you want."

"Oh, it's curry! I haven't eaten home made food in years." Ryu's Grandpa said, after putting the first table spoon of food inside his mouth and eating it, he seemed to be enjoying the food, "As expected of my daughter, your cooking is unmatched." he said proudly which made her smile and say, "Of course it is, my cooking as a whole is unmatched."

After a dinner filled with joy and laughter, Ryu brought out a chess board to play with his grandfather, "Let's see how better you've gotten at chess Ryu." he said, challenging Ryu, "I've gotten much better grandpa, I'm sure I can defeat you st least one time today." Ryu said with a smirk on his face.

"Oho? Then let's see how better you've gotten shall we?" he brought a silver coin out of his pocket, "I'm tails, you're heads." and threw up the coin, after some spin, the coin landed back in his hand, showing heads. "You're white, I'm black."

They quickly put the chess pieces on the board and started playing.

They played three matches, all three being as intense as they could be, the first game was won by the Ryu's grandfather, the second game where Ryu was black, he won which made his grandpa praise him a lot, and third game again ended in Ryu's loss.

After all these Ryu was tired, so he went to sleep, meanwhile his Mother and Grandfather stood seated in the living room, drinking the tea he had brought as a gift.

"I lost, it's been a long time since the last time I lost." grandfather, Takashi said as he drank the tea, "Ryu has truly come a long way, after living so many years without a quirk, he finally awakened it, a truly powerful one." he said as he looked at the surface of the tea, "But it's one that makes everyone's eyes lock on him, it scares some, makes some jealous, and makes some crave to steal it."

"He really fits the family doesn't he? It has been always like this for us." Ryu's mother, Yome said with a small smile, causing Takashi to smile too, "He does my dear, he does." he took another sip of his warm tea, "His nightmares are scars of the past, something I will not allow to be repeated ever again, even after my death."

"Father...". Yome looked at his father clenched hands and white knuckles, "Don't feel indebted to either me or our family my dear, did you forget our family motto?" he asked calmly.

"As One We Rise, As One We Fall." Yome said with a weak smile, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Takashi completed it and caressed his daughter's hair.

"We're a family, a capable one, if you needed help, just tell us, we would be happy to help you and Ryu." he said with eyes full of emotions.

"Now, about the other problem, don't worry about them anymore, they can't do anything to Ryu unless they have evidence proving he is a threat to safety of public, just tell Ryu to say out of trouble and not break any laws, that's all."

A smile came to face of Yome," Thank you father." she said as a tear dropped of her crimson eye, her father hugged him and made her calm down.

"I know you've been sleeping less because of Ryu's nightmares, you can relax and rest now my dear, go and have a good sleep." he said calmly as he released her from his hug.

"What about you father?" Yome asked, "I need to go, I will visit you and Ryu every week or two from now on." he said as he got up off of the couch.

Yome followed him to the entrance, "Goodbye for now my dear." he said as he stepped out of the house, "Farewell father." Yome said.

He stepped in the car and his driver drove the car away, and Yome closed the door, she could finally relax after such a long time.

She went to bed, and drifted off to sleep, that night, Ryu didn't experience any nightmares.

In the car that was being driven away, Takashi looked out of the window to the night sky, his smile being obvious under his white beard and mustache, "Rest easily, Shadow Queen and Child of Mischief."